June 18, 2011

Today's report from my Ride

Started at 8:00 am and finished at 2:45 pm.

Covered 65 miles, 14.4 mph ave speed, can't figure out how to get max speed off my new odometer.  I'll have to look at my "owners sheet" again.  It's amazing in that it has the same instructions in 11 other languages besides English. 

Riding time - 4 hrs, 28 minutes

Feet of elevation climbed - sadly, my new odometer doesn't track this

Wind - out of the SW, but very minor. On the "Hurt/Help" Wind scale - +0.0.

The "Hurt/Help" Wind Scale is my way of saying "this is how much the wind hurt/helped me over the course of the day". It can Hurt me up to a -5, or help me up to a +5.

About today:

I fulfilled a long held wish (well, for at least the last two weeks) and slept in until I couldn't sleep anymore.  It was glorious!  It also resulted in a late start, and late starts have NOT been good to me on this trip.  When I went to make sure my tires were at 110 psi of pressure, I popped a valve off my floor pump.  Well, I suspect the next town I'm going through that would have a bike shop with a floor pump for sale is Kearney, so we had to problem solve that one.  My support ladies (Connie, Diane, Donna and Lorry) went to Scottbluff National Monument (took pictures for me) and then to the bike shop after it opened (to buy a floor pump) before taking off to catch up with me in Bridgeport.  Here are some pics from the top of the Bluff.  I have not yet been up there...)-:), but they assured me that it was a spetacular view AND that they were all bringing their spouses back here to see it.  The Bluff is 800 feet above the North Platte River at its base!



Scotts Bluff National Monument from Gering



the entrance



from up on top



notice the trail to the top



more of the Bluff



the Bluff



Chimney Rock!



      Between Scottsbluff and Bridgeport, we passed what is easily the most familiar landmark in NE, Chimney Rock.  It's not as tall as it was 150 years ago, but is still a fascinating landmark! 

      We met up in Bridgeport for a quick lunch.  I headed south on Hwy 88, which loops past Courthouse and Jail Rocks as it turns west and goes for over 30 miles to Hwy 71 between Kimball and Scottsbluff.  They are two really neat rock formations!





Courthouse and Jail Rocks, south of Bridgeport



Courthouse and Jail Rocks,
two very famous landmarks in NE history!






As I pedaled west on Hwy 88, the day got really interesting.  I could see very dark clouds moving in, lightening, thunder rumbling off to the SW, which means I'm very likely going to get wet, which is why I'm glad I have a support vehicle.  Wait!  Where IS my support vehicle??  I try to call them.  No answer, so I leave a message, "Are you gals going to be out here pretty soon?  It's starting to look kind of icky."  Well, 20 minutes later, it was past icky.  (Naturally, all of my rain gear was in the support vehicle!)  I can see the rain moving toward me.  This time Diane does answer my phone call.  "Man is it good to hear your voice!  Where are you ladies at?  Just leaving Bridgeport?  Good.  Hurry!"  Five minutes after that lightening is flashing all around me and the thunder is doing that high-pitched crackle/kaBOOM stuff!  So, by now, I've laid my bike in the ditch, moved away from it and am laying on the ground watching east for my knightettes in shining armor.  My last phone call was simply, "Ahhhh, Diane, it's ok if you speed a little."    Well, they screeched to a stop, gravel flying all over the place, just as the first rain drops started to pelt down.  And low and behold, I had to put the bike on the rack all by myself!  Every other time I put the bike on the rack, they all piled out to assist me (as good sag drivers ought to do), but noooooooooo, not this time.  Hmmm....

Well, to make their long story short, apparently they were in a shop in Bridgeport trying to solicit donations for Make-A-Wish.  They even claimed they got one.  I still haven't seen any cash or a check yet though.  Plus, Connie was wearing a brand new scarf.  Probably just a coincidence.  Anyway, no one died which was the main thing for me.  (-:)  We drove for a few miles until the rain quit.  Then I rode for another 15 miles until we ran into more bad weather.  There were little maurading storms roaming all over, and it didn't look like it was going to stop.  So, right or wrong I called it a day once I reached Hwy 71. 

These four wonderful ladies were so moved by my terrifying near death experience that when they found out I was riding unsupported tomorrow (Sally Harris was going to transport my gear from Kimball to Ogallala) that they decided to stay with me one more day!  I am very serious when I say that I really appreciate that because weather tomorrow does not look very nice.  I'm going to get a much earlier start than today, AND I will have all my rain gear with me this time!

One fascinating thing I learned during my stay in Kimball, is that there are around 200 ICBM missle silos in this tri-state area!  Ken took me out to see two of them just a few miles south of here.  They don't look like much, a fenced in area with a big concrete slab and poles with cameras, satelites dish, etc.  But, I guess if you go goofing around next to one, you will be surrounded by and answering questions from some very serious chaps with M-16 rifles within just a few minutes.  He also said that there is a couple who lives outside Kimball and their home is one of these abandoned missle silos.  They are willing to give tours of their home.  That would be interesting! 

Kimball "Missile Center USA" is the center of the largest complex of Intercontinental Ballistics Missiles in the world. Two hundred Minuteman III ICBM's are harbored in silos in the immediate Tri-State area of Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming.



ICBM missle silo



     

Thank-yous for today:

I am deeply grateful for my host family tonight, Pastor Ken Mars, his wife Vickie and their four delightful children!  Thank you for making me feel so welcome! 


Abigal, Nathaniel, Lydia, Ken, Vickie and Timothy Mars

Thanks also goes to Donna, Diane, Lorry and Connie, who failed miserably to convince me that the lady at the bike shop just gave them a $40 floor pump and therefore I don't owe them anything for it.  Thank you also for supper tonight.  It was a joy to spend the time with you.  I am already grateful for your company tomorrow as well. 

Bible verses dealing with Jesus and “wishes”.  A WISH…

     For us to follow Jesus as the Good Shepherd – John 10:1-18

Quote of the Day:

"When you're cruising at 20 mph, a unique (and satisfying) sound is produced by a grasshopper flying into your front wheel spokes." - Common Knowledge 

"To escape the snarling dog chasing your group ride, simply ride a little faster than the slowest person in the group." - Common Sense 

“It is nearly impossible to fart while sitting firmly on a bicycle seat.” - Common Challenge

Closing thoughts for the day: 

First - Late starts MUST be avoided!  Second - I am deeply grateful for Jesus' love, for all the folks who love and encourage me, and for the chance to do this ride for as many Make-A-Wish children as I can!  Time to get a good night's sleep so I can hit the road early.  Talk with you tomorrow.  (-:)

Forecast for the next day:

Gloomy...

Route/Towns for the next day:

June 19 - Kimball to Dix to Potter to Brownson to Sidney to Colton to Sunol to 

                    Lodgepole to Chappel to Oshkosh to Lewellen to Ogallala